Declining awareness of memory loss precedes dementia

New research indicates that people who go on to develop dementia can start losing awareness of their memory problems up to 3 years before the condition arises. "Our findings suggest that unawareness of one's memory problems is an inevitable feature of late-life dementia, driven by a buildup of dementia-related changes in the brain," reports study author Robert Wilson, of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL.
The study, published in Neurology, also identifies that a number of changes in the brain related to dementia are associated with a decline in memory awareness.  Dementia is a collective term to describe a group of symptoms severely affecting cognitive functioning. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease; according to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the US, with 5.3 million Americans of all ages estimated to have the condition.
Although declining awareness of memory loss is common among people with dementia, Dr. Wilson states that experts do not know much about how prevalent it is, when it develops or why it affects some people more than others.
"Most studies of memory unawareness in dementia have focused on people who have already been diagnosed," he says. "In contrast, this new study began following older adults before they showed signs of dementia."  The study analyzed 2,092 participants from three longitudinal studies who reported no memory or cognitive impairment at the beginning of the study. The participants were subjected to testing each year for more than 10 years to evaluate their memory and thinking capabilities. Participants had an average age of 76 at study baseline.
    MNT

Declining awareness of memory loss precedes dementia

New research indicates that people who go on to develop dementia can start losing awareness of their memory problems up to 3 years before the condition arises. Our findings suggest that unawareness of ones memory problems is an inevitable feature of late-life dementia, driven by a buildup of dementia-related changes in the brain, reports study author Robert Wilson, of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL. The study, published in Neurology, also identifies that a number of changes in the brain related to dementia are associated with a decline in memory awareness. Dementia is a collective term to describe a group of symptoms severely affecting cognitive functioning. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimers disease; according to the Alzheimers Association, Alzheimers disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the US, with 5.3 million Americans of all ages estimated to have the condition. Although declining awareness of memory loss is common among people with dementia, Dr. Wilson states that experts do not know much about how prevalent it is, when it develops or why it affects some people more than others. Most studies of memory unawareness in dementia have focused on people who have already been diagnosed, he says. In contrast, this new study began following older adults before they showed signs of dementia. The study analyzed 2,092 participants from three longitudinal studies who reported no memory or cognitive impairment at the beginning of the study. The participants were subjected to testing each year for more than 10 years to evaluate their memory and thinking capabilities. Participants had an average age of 76 at study baseline. MNT